37K
Downloads
443
Episodes
Authors J.A. Ironside and M.E. Vaughan talk about books, films and all aspects of speculative fiction, from the nuts and bolts of writing it, to its (occasionally) obscure origins.
Episodes
Friday Jul 31, 2020
Friday Jul 31, 2020
A popular component of an adventure story is the discovery of a hidden or lost civilisation. Atlantis, Muir, Lyonesse and many other mythological cities and countries are rich fodder for writers of speculative fiction. This week the dragons delve into the possible explanations behind the myths and look at interesting gaps in historical record which might have given rise to stories of lost cities and continents, before taking a stroll through SFF which has used this source as inspiration. On the slab this week - Atlantis, Dinotopia and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
It can be easy, if your aim is publication and especially if you are already published, to forget that not everything you write has to have a purpose other than sheer enjoyment. Sometimes getting out of your own way as a writer involves writing something you'd never show to anyone else, that you have no intention of submitting or publishing. And in 'interesting times' such as those we currently live in, writing can be a form of pure escapism, a type of therapy or an enjoyable amusement. This week the dragons talk about many of the different ways you can employ writing techniques to cope with depression, boredom, anxiety or even to problem solve. In addition, writing different formats and styles will hone your technique. Do you always overwrite? Try poetry or microfiction. Do you have difficulty evoking a sense of place? Try some exercises to engage your senses. Join Jules and Madeleine for a light and informative look at how writing can help you relax.
Friday Jul 10, 2020
Friday Jul 10, 2020
The 'coming of age' narrative is not restricted to literary or contemporary fiction. A surprising number of SFF authors - both of YA and adult fiction - have tapped into this transitional period of a character's life to add another dimension to a story. In some cases, to actually drive the story. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at what makes this narrative arc so appealing no matter what genre you're writing in. From 'teenager is used to drive a revolution' to 'the supernatural is interfering with my crucial life choices', the dragons examine the most usual coming of age tropes. On the slab this week - My Hero Academia, I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith, The Karate Kid and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jul 03, 2020
Friday Jul 03, 2020
This week the dragons take a look at a specific genre mash-up which is increasing in popularity - Historical Fantasy. Unlike epic fantasy inspired by historical events, eg Game of Thrones, Historical Fantasy adds speculative elements to documented history and while it may feature invented characters, the unfolding of history remains fairly constant. Done well this sub-genre of both historical fiction and fantasy can provide an immersive reading experience, with a satisfyingly well built world, fascinating real historical events and speculative elements which can add to the escapism of the reading experience or even provide extra nuance or lighter moments. Under the microscope this week - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Suzanna Clarke, The Diviners - Libba Bray, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Friday Jun 26, 2020
One quest all of will at some point take part in, is the quest for our own identities. Whether this is something consciously undertaken or subconsciously sought, the narrative of who we are as individuals is a human quest. It's not then surprising that a lot of fiction reflects this; the classic hero's journey is, at its core, the search for identity, for a place in the world. This week the dragons delve into just why this is such an appealing aspect to add to a narrative. What exactly is identity in narrative terms? How does it put pressure on a plot? And what are some of the best ways this trope is used? On the slab this week - Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pearce, The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson, The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jun 19, 2020
Friday Jun 19, 2020
A trope which regularly crops up in speculative fiction is that of the hero or protagonist being forced to confront the temptation to use power which has been designated as 'bad'. Whether the author likes to test their main character to destruction or whether it's the reader enjoying watching a protagonist examine their own morality and how flexible or rigid their sense of ethics is, the trope appears in everything from children's fiction to sci-fi to horror to epic fantasy. This week the dragons delve into why it's so appealing to have the good guy flirt with bad magic. How does this enrich a story? Where can it go wrong? And can power ever be described as truly good or bad?
On the slab this week - Star Wars, The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis, The Untamed, The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Those who regularly obit the SFF sphere will be familiar the phenomenon of 'retconning'. In part this is due to SFF marketplaces having space for long series and expanded universes, not to mention spin offs, reboots and reprises. It can be annoying to fans to have a piece of long established canon ignored or painted over by new story developments whether it is intentional or not. And this is before you consider multiple authors all writing in a single sprawling shared universe or a single author who has written a fifteen book series, simply not checking or misremembering facts. So how does this affect the reader experience and what can you as a writer do about it where your own work is concerned? This week the dragons take a look at several examples of retconning and misremembering, and where they feel the authors got away with it - or not! Under the microscope this week: Star Trek, Acorna the Unicorn Girl by Anne McCaffrey, Star Wars and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jun 05, 2020
Friday Jun 05, 2020
In a past episode, Jules and Madeleine went into detail about 'unreliable narrators'. If the effect you want to create in your reader is to make them constantly question the narrative, causing conflict between the reader and the narrator in order to create tension, then an unreliable narrator can be a great choice. However there are other kinds of narrator which can be used similarly but to create more nuanced effects in your reader. This week the dragons look at the 'inadequate narrator'. More details in the episode obviously but children, animals and non humans are all examples of inadequate narrators. What sort of narratives are these characters best for and what are the advantages of using them? On the slab this week Jojo Rabbit, Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian, The Rosie Project by Graham Simsion and many more.
(NB - Jules and Madeline both refer to 'The Mysterious Case of the Dog in the Night-time'. Obviously they mean 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon - apologies for the error!)
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday May 29, 2020
Friday May 29, 2020
Speculative fiction is rife with magical objects - rings, crowns, swords and far stranger items - the presence of which shape the narrative as the object is lost, stolen, regained and destroyed. However, while archetype such as the bard or minstrel show up regularly, slightly less attention is paid to magic wielders in SFF whose power is expressed through creating something. This week the dragons delve into the world of the magical creative from the dwarves of Nordic mythology to the artist characters that see the future. What is it about the process of creating that so fascinates us? How can these characters be used to create an unusual magic system? On the slab this week - Heroes, L J Smiths Dark Visions series, Tamora Pearce's Circle of Magic and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic